How old is the kora, as a type?

Jens Nordlunde · 3rd September 2005, 04:34 PM

Hi Spiral,

So, in Nepal we are back around 1560, with a kora style we are familiar with, I wonder how much further back it can be traced in the Himalayas. I may be difficult, as there were not many travellers in these parts at the times, besides caravans during a few summer months, when the passes were passable.
I must admit, the more I look at the picture posted by BI in post #2, it looks as if it could be a very early type of a kora, straighter than we know them, but then again, that is the way I think the sword must have started – but that is pure guessing on my side.
Earlier I thought that the kora could have been used in Deccan and maybe in Bengal, but now it seems as if it was a common weapon. Only in many books it is not even mentioned, which could mean, that it went out of use, the tulwar and the shamshir types taking over. Meaning the blades of most of the koras were made into tulwar and shamshir blades, as steel was expensive and had to be reused, old blades as well as when the blade tradition changed.
It is funny to think that for a long period of time, the Afghans ruled in Bengal, but the kora cant have appealed to them, or one would have seen it used in Afghanistan.

The only picture I have shows only two of the eight koras. Notice the different tips.

spiral · 4th September 2005, 05:10 PM

Thankyou Jens. Fascinating.
~Interesting pommel styles as well.

Heres the photo I mentioned, sorry its a poor one, it was the first display case ,I came across & I could see more aluring ones ahead.

Meant to go back to this one but got sidetracked.

Weapons of Draya Shah c.1560.

Spiral

photo. copywrite, Spiral JRS 2005.
may only be used with acknowledgment.

3rd September 2005, 04:34 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Hi Spiral, So, in Nepal we are back around 1560, with a kora style we are familiar with, I wonder how much further back it can be traced in the Himalayas. I may be difficult, as there were not many travellers in these parts at the times, besides caravans during a few summer months, when the passes were passable. I must admit, the more I look at the picture posted by BI in post #2, it looks as if it could be a very early type of a kora, straighter than we know them, but then again, that is the way I think the sword must have started – but that is pure guessing on my side. Earlier I thought that the kora could have been used in Deccan and maybe in Bengal, but now it seems as if it was a common weapon. Only in many books it is not even mentioned, which could mean, that it went out of use, the tulwar and the shamshir types taking over. Meaning the blades of most of the koras were made into tulwar and shamshir blades, as steel was expensive and had to be reused, old blades as well as when the blade tradition changed. It is funny to think that for a long period of time, the Afghans ruled in Bengal, but the kora cant have appealed to them, or one would have seen it used in Afghanistan. The only picture I have shows only two of the eight koras. Notice the different tips. Attached Images

4th September 2005, 05:10 PM	#2
spiral Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,712	Thankyou Jens. Fascinating. ~Interesting pommel styles as well. Heres the photo I mentioned, sorry its a poor one, it was the first display case ,I came across & I could see more aluring ones ahead. Meant to go back to this one but got sidetracked. Weapons of Draya Shah c.1560. Spiral photo. copywrite, Spiral JRS 2005. may only be used with acknowledgment. Attached Images